Study in Nordwestmecklenburg district, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (2026): Universities, Rent, Jobs & Student Life

In short

Nordwestmecklenburg is a rural district (Landkreis) in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 156,692 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has one university: Hochschule Wismar - University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design (Wismar). Summers average 17.3 °C and winters 2 °C, with about 664 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Nordwestmecklenburg district in numbers

Population

156,692Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

2,127.1 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

74Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

1Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

Hochschule Wismar - University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design

Typical student rent

€295–350 per monthSource (opens in a new tab)

Monthly rent including all ancillary costs for one furnished single room in a three-person shared flat at Störtebeker residence, Wismar; the operator’s undated listing, checked November 2026. This is a residence price range, not a district-wide average.

Average temperature

9.4 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

664 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Sunshine

1,728 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

55 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

About Nordwestmecklenburg district

Nordwestmecklenburg lies on the Baltic coast in northwestern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, bordering Lübeck to the west and Schwerin to the south. Wismar and Grevesmühlen are its principal urban centres (district background (opens in a new tab)).

Wismar’s historic centre is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site shared with Stralsund. Beyond it, the countryside around Grevesmühlen has a strong agricultural character, while coastal tourism provides another important strand of local life (Wismar visitor guide (opens in a new tab), Grevesmühlen-Land (opens in a new tab)).

Main towns

Wismar
The district’s university city, with Hochschule Wismar’s campus and student facilities (university campus tour (opens in a new tab)).
Grevesmühlen
An inland centre with a direct mv65 bus connection to Wismar, including a stop beside the university (NAHBUS timetable (opens in a new tab)).
Klütz
Home to Schloss Bothmer, its museum and surrounding park (State Palaces and Gardens (opens in a new tab)).
Schönberg
A town on the Lübeck–Bad Kleinen railway whose station is included in the corridor’s modernisation programme (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)).

Universities here

Universities in Nordwestmecklenburg district, biggest first.

Hochschule Wismar gives the district a university base in Wismar, with campus facilities and the student-run Block 17 club (campus tour (opens in a new tab)). Living in Wismar is the practical starting point for attending classes there; Grevesmühlen is a commuting option via the mv65 bus (NAHBUS (opens in a new tab)). Lübeck’s universities are another nearby option, but test the journey from your actual address before choosing accommodation: DB is undertaking extensive work on the Lübeck–Bad Kleinen corridor (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)). This district is worth considering if you want campus life alongside small-town surroundings and coastal outings.

Hochschule Wismar - University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design
University of applied sciences · Wismar · 87 courses
Website (opens in a new tab)

Find a course in Nordwestmecklenburg

Housing

Published residence rents provide a useful budget starting point, but finding a room is not necessarily quick. The Studierendenwerk advises that offers in Wismar generally take three to six months when applicants consider its full accommodation range; restricting the search to an apartment can mean waiting well over a year (housing FAQ (opens in a new tab)).

The typical student rent we found, and what that figure covers, is in the key facts.

How to find a place

Apply early to Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar and consider several room types. Its FAQ permits applications before an enrolment certificate is available, although the certificate is required before the operator signs the tenancy agreement (housing FAQ (opens in a new tab)).
Search WG-Gesucht for Wismar shared flats; Hochschule Wismar explicitly recommends it to international students (university housing advice (opens in a new tab)).
Contact local providers such as WOBAU Wismar, Wohnungsgenossenschaft Union Wismar and Wismarer Wohnungsgenossenschaft, all listed by the university (university housing advice (opens in a new tab)).
After enrolling, check the Stud.IP noticeboard for rooms and shared flats (starting your studies (opens in a new tab)).
For accommodation outside Wismar, check the weekday, weekend and last-bus timetable before signing; NAHBUS publishes individual route schedules and construction changes (local timetables (opens in a new tab)).

Student residences

Bürgermeister-Haupt-Straße 29 (opens in a new tab)
Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar
Furnished accommodation close to campus, including shared-flat rooms and an accessible residential unit (residence details (opens in a new tab)).
Friedrich-Wolf-Straße 25 (opens in a new tab)
Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar
Furnished single rooms in Friedenshof, with shared bathrooms and kitchens; internet access is included in the listed rent (residence details (opens in a new tab)).
DreiMaster (opens in a new tab)
Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar
Restored old-town residence at Fischerstraße 4/Wasserstraße 3, offering furnished shared-flat rooms and apartments near the railway and bus stations (residence details (opens in a new tab)).
Störtebeker (opens in a new tab)
Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar
Old-town residence at Wasserstraße 16–17 with furnished single rooms in three-person shared flats (residence details (opens in a new tab)).

Cost of living

For an initial budget, Störtebeker lists rooms at €295–350 monthly including ancillary costs (Studierendenwerk (opens in a new tab)). Hochschule Wismar’s Wismar-campus contribution for winter semester 2026/27 is €123 for re-enrolment or €147.50 for first enrolment; neither includes a Deutschlandticket (university fee table (opens in a new tab)). If needed, the ordinary Deutschlandticket costs €63 monthly during 2026, rising to €66.80 in January 2027 (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)). Budget separately for food, insurance, communications and your housing deposit; a residence rent alone is not a complete monthly living budget.

Jobs & employers

Verified local employers illustrate several different employment sectors: wood-product manufacturing at EGGER in Wismar, dairy production at Arla in Upahl and healthcare at Sana HANSE-Klinikum Wismar (EGGER (opens in a new tab), Arla (opens in a new tab), Sana (opens in a new tab)). For work alongside classes, coastal hospitality is a concrete search area: CAMP DAVID Adventure Park in Boltenhagen explicitly advertises student-compatible casual and seasonal work (careers page (opens in a new tab)). Industrial internships require a separate check of subject fit, hours and timing.

Typical student jobs

Restaurant service shifts in Boltenhagen; local employers advertise part-time service work (CAMP DAVID careers (opens in a new tab)).
Seasonal hospitality assistant work during the summer, explicitly advertised for students (CAMP DAVID careers (opens in a new tab)).
Year-round casual hospitality work or a Minijob, also explicitly listed for students (CAMP DAVID careers (opens in a new tab)).
Subject-related industrial internships in Wismar; EGGER’s careers portal lists a local Fachpraktikum application route, which should not be assumed to be a part-time job (EGGER careers (opens in a new tab)).

Major employers

EGGER Holzwerkstoffe Wismar (opens in a new tab)
Wood-based materials
The Wismar plant manufactures laminate flooring and OSB, MDF and HDF boards (EGGER locations (opens in a new tab)).
Arla Foods, Upahl (opens in a new tab)
Dairy and food production
Arla identifies Upahl as its competence centre for organic products and quark, also producing fermented products such as skyr (Arla Upahl (opens in a new tab)).
Sana HANSE-Klinikum Wismar (opens in a new tab)
Healthcare
Hospital employer with medical, nursing, technical and administrative roles; its careers page also describes internship and training opportunities (Sana careers (opens in a new tab)).

Getting around

NAHBUS operates local routes and publishes schedules for Wismar and the surrounding district. On the published mv65 timetable, Grevesmühlen Busbahnhof to the Hochschule stop in Wismar takes roughly 30–35 minutes, with about 40–45 minutes to Wismar ZOB (mv65 timetable (opens in a new tab)). Wismar has RE8 services towards Bad Kleinen, Schwerin and Berlin (ODEG timetable (opens in a new tab)). Check journeys towards Lübeck carefully because the Lübeck–Bad Kleinen railway is undergoing extensive modernisation (DB project information (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers local and regional public transport, generally excluding long-distance trains (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)). NAHBUS also accepts it on its Rufbus services, which normally require booking at least an hour ahead and have additional advance-booking rules for early journeys (Rufbus information (opens in a new tab)).

Main stations

Wismar — RE8 services towards Schwerin and Berlin (ODEG (opens in a new tab)).
Bad Kleinen — a regional interchange on the routes serving Wismar, Schwerin, Rostock and Lübeck (VMV network map (opens in a new tab)).
Grevesmühlen and Schönberg (Meckl) — stations on the Lübeck–Bad Kleinen corridor; check construction-related service arrangements (Deutsche Bahn (opens in a new tab)).

Nearest airport

Lübeck Airport (LBC)

A nearby passenger airport west of the district, south of Lübeck. Local bus line 6 serves it; check the current flight and onward-travel schedules before booking (airport background and transport (opens in a new tab)).

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Wismar (15 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

2 °C

54 mm rain a month

1.7 h sun a day

Spring

8.4 °C

43 mm rain a month

6.2 h sun a day

Summer

17.3 °C

72 mm rain a month

7.4 h sun a day

Autumn

10 °C

52 mm rain a month

3.6 h sun a day

Expect cool winters with limited sunshine, a brighter spring and generally mild summers rather than prolonged heat. Bring layers and waterproof clothing for the journey to campus. Summer lends itself to beach trips on Poel, while winter outings need more attention to opening hours: Schloss Bothmer’s museum switches to a reduced winter schedule (Poel beaches (opens in a new tab), Bothmer opening hours (opens in a new tab)).

Culture, language & food

Wismar’s Hanseatic heritage and former Swedish connection remain visible in its cultural calendar, particularly the August Schwedenfest (Wismar visitor guide (opens in a new tab)). Grevesmühlen’s events include concerts, neighbourhood celebrations and an annual town festival supported by local associations and volunteers (city events (opens in a new tab)).

For student evenings, Block 17 is a concrete starting point: the university describes a club run by students, with its own events and space for student celebrations (campus tour (opens in a new tab)). Treat the wider district as a place for planned outings and local events rather than assuming a large-city nightlife scene.

Plan to use German for housing enquiries, everyday administration and local job applications, even if your degree is taught in English. As a practical learning target, aim for B1 and work towards B2; this is advice, not a universal admission or employment requirement. Hochschule Wismar’s language centre offers German as a foreign language and a conversation-focused Sprachcafé for international and German students (language centre (opens in a new tab)).

Local food

Fischbrötchen
Fish rolls are a well-established coastal snack on Poel, with several harbour and village businesses listed by the tourism office (Poel food guide (opens in a new tab)).
Räucherfisch
Smoked fish is another local coastal option; Poel’s official food directory lists island smokehouses and fish counters (Poel food guide (opens in a new tab)).
Herring dishes
Wismar’s Heringstage celebrate herring through special dishes at restaurants in the city and surrounding area (Wismar visitor guide (opens in a new tab)).

Places & events

Places to see

Wismar old town
UNESCO
Explore the historic centre that shares UNESCO World Heritage status with Stralsund (Wismar visitor guide (opens in a new tab)).
Schloss Bothmer, Klütz
Palace
A palace museum and park linked to Count Hans Caspar von Bothmer’s career in England (State Palaces and Gardens (opens in a new tab)).
Timmendorf-Strand, Insel Poel
Coast
A beach beside a harbour and lighthouse on Poel’s west coast, with seasonal watersports (Poel tourism (opens in a new tab)).
Am Schwarzen Busch, Insel Poel
Beach
A sandy beach with a promenade and food outlets behind the shore (Poel tourism (opens in a new tab)).

Events

Wismarer Heringstage (opens in a new tab)
March
A recurring celebration of herring and local food; the published 2026 programme ran from 14 to 29 March (Wismar visitor guide (opens in a new tab)).
Grevesmühlener Stadtfest (opens in a new tab)
June
The city confirms an annual June town festival, with activities in the centre from Thursday through Sunday (Grevesmühlen events (opens in a new tab)).
Schwedenfest, Wismar (opens in a new tab)
August
A city festival remembering Wismar’s Swedish history, held around the market square, old-town streets and harbour (Wismar visitor guide (opens in a new tab)).

Schloss Bothmer in Klütz surrounded by snow
Panoramic view of Timmendorf harbour on the island of Poel

Student experiences

First-hand posts from students in Nordwestmecklenburg district, read by our team before they appear.

Loading experiences…

Studying in Nordwestmecklenburg district: FAQ

Is there a university in Nordwestmecklenburg?

Yes. Hochschule Wismar is based in Wismar and has a campus with teaching buildings, student facilities and the Block 17 student club (university campus tour (opens in a new tab)).

Is Nordwestmecklenburg a good place to live as a student?

It is worth considering if you want university life in Wismar and coastal outings on Poel (campus tour (opens in a new tab), Poel beaches (opens in a new tab)). For a first semester at Hochschule Wismar, prioritise an address with a straightforward campus journey.

How do I get from Grevesmühlen to Hochschule Wismar?

NAHBUS route mv65 connects Grevesmühlen Busbahnhof with Philipp-Müller-Straße/Hochschule in Wismar. The published timetable gives roughly 30–35 minutes for that journey; check the service for your particular day (mv65 timetable (opens in a new tab)).

How much does student accommodation cost in Wismar?

Störtebeker residence lists furnished single rooms in three-person shared flats at €295–350 per month including ancillary costs, checked November 2026 (Studierendenwerk (opens in a new tab)). This is a residence example, not an average for private rentals.

Does Hochschule Wismar include a Deutschlandticket in its semester contribution?

For winter semester 2026/27, the Wismar-campus contribution does not include a Deutschlandticket. The university publishes different arrangements for its Warnemünde location, so check the column for your study location (semester contribution (opens in a new tab)).

What jobs can students find in Nordwestmecklenburg?

Hospitality is a concrete option: a Boltenhagen employer explicitly advertises year-round and seasonal assistant work for students (CAMP DAVID careers (opens in a new tab)). For subject-related experience, EGGER lists an industrial internship application route in Wismar; check its working hours separately (EGGER careers (opens in a new tab)).

More guides

Sources & photo credits

Last updated November 2026. Population and area: Destatis. Weather: Deutscher Wetterdienst. Universities and courses: our catalogue. Everything else was researched from the sources below and checked — how we research these guides.

Sources

Photo credits

Wismar harbour with the city and St. Georgen church behind it — Dellex (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
Schloss Bothmer in Klütz surrounded by snow — Matthias Bethke (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0
Panoramic view of Timmendorf harbour on the island of Poel — Rauenstein (opens in a new tab), Public domain

Study in Nordwestmecklenburg district